Tonight's special guest is Marianne Smith from Torrance, California, a new NAASCA family member who's telling her story for the first time on the radio show tonight. Marianne had a difficult home life. Her father died when she was 10 and her mother, who struggled with mental illness, eventually lost custody of her four kids. At 13, Marianne was placed in foster care and began to suffer sexual abuse. Foster care kids are among the most abused groups, along with indigenous children and those living in our poorer inner city neighborhoods. About 60% of sexually abused kids are abused by their own family and and extended family (mom's new boyfriend for example) and 30% are assaulted by their own 'caregiver' community (baby sitters, teachers, clergy coaches, camp councilors). Less than 10% of sexually molested kids are assaulted by strangers to them or the community. Marianne had a lot of trauma in her adulthood, including CPTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress disorder). As children we often don't know at first just what is happening. Once we realize that the adults around us are being abusive, we often have a hard time, being heard, being believed. For many people the obsessive use of  alcohol, food, gambling to excess, and sexual promiscuity, can last for decades, and often stands in the way of recovery. Marianne, in fact, had a difficult time just remembering her previous life. But she's now reconstituted her self, and at 64 seems ready to take on this healing journey .. and we're delighted to have her as the newest member of the NAASCA family.

Stop Child Abuse Now

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Q & A call-in discussion with a survivor-professional, using an OPEN MIKE forum. We'll feature a survivor-professional co-host who'll field topics brought to the episode by you, the listener. ~~ Tonight the special co-host will be Sharyn Higdon Jones, a licensed psychotherapist for over 35 years with individuals, couples and families who have experienced the trauma of abuse. In her words: “The pain of being sexually abused is deep and profound. The abuse experience touches the core of a woman's being in ways she could never have predicted. She has been violated on so many levels." Sharyn is also the author of the book 'Healing Steps; a Gentle Path to Recovery for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse,' written in a workbook format with exercises. Sharyn says, “Healing Steps is a perfect step-by-step process that evolved out of groups of women molested as children. It is the perfect format either to be facilitated by a mental health professional or could be used as a guide in a peer support group.” ~~ On these episodes we welcome various co-hosts, survivor-professionals who'll assist in fielding questions and lead a variety of topics suggested by our call-in participants. Their trauma-informed perspectives as survivor-professionals will help them guide discussions on the issues of child abuse, trauma and healthy human sexuality that spring from questions and topics brought to us by our listeners. ~~ Everyone's invited to engage on tonight's show. ~~ Please visit the NAASCA.org web site.

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Tonight's special guest is Penelope Benis from Bellevue, Washington, a returning NAASCA family member and a survivor of childhood domestic violence and sexual abuse. Born into multi-generational abuse, she endured extreme and multiple forms of maltreatment. The abuse was physical, mental, emotional and sexual in nature. As a survival technique in her childhood, Penelope completely dissociated the abuse via depersonalization. Her primary care doctor took notice and gently urged her to seek trauma-informed therapy. Five years ago her healing process began through intensive cognitive therapy and other modalities (such as hiking, yoga and meditation), which enabled her to begin the process of healing. Penelope considers herself to now be in recovery, which she defines as a lifelong process. Living in Bellevue, WA, with her husband and three sons, she works as an instructor at Bellevue College, holds a license as a Certified Ace Health Coach and is an avid activist in the prevention of child abuse. Penelope, a Certified Yoga Instructor (RYS200), has been Trauma Informed Trained in Yoga through Yoga Behind Bars in Seattle, WA. Penelope has published “Healing from Abuse; How Outdoor Exercise Can Energize and Awaken Our Minds, Lift Our Spirits, Enhance Our Cognitive Performance, and Help Alleviate Depression,” which can be found on the NAASCA website. Penelope, a member of NAASCA, serves on NAASCA’s Board, holds the title of NAASCA’s Washington State Ambassador, and hosts the Monday and Wednesday editions of NAASCA’s “Stop Child Abuse Now” talk radio show.

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Tonight's special guest is Aland Stamps from Bay City, Michigan, a former foster youth who grew up in foster care during the late 70's and 80's after his mother, who was a heroin addict, eventually lost her parenting rights as a result of her addiction. After 11 years in foster care and 20 different placements (foster homes, group homes and institutions), Aland aged out of foster care and into homelessness. Within the first two and a half years of aging out, Aland couch-surfed, became a crack addict and alcoholic.  He ate out of soup kitchens daily and bounced around from homeless shelter to homeless shelter on the streets of the Cass Corridor in Detroit. He was in a near-fatal car accident, sold drugs to support his own drug habit, was convicted of three felony drug charges and sentenced up to 20 years in prison for probation violations and felony assault. Aland served 7 of that 20-year sentence before being released. Aland shares his story and recovery principals to youth across Michigan and he has started the first-ever foster care recovery support group for anyone who has experienced foster care regardless of age. Foster youth are resilient. Finding jobs, building businesses, graduating from college, and other steps to success are all things a current or former foster youth can do with ease. They are naturally fighters.  However, living, enjoying, and sustaining those things are a challenge for those who haven't found recovery. River Jordan, Inc. has a system that works because its programs and services have elements of best-practice models including 'California's First Place For Youth' housing model and the evidence based Peer Support model.

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Q & A call-in discussion with a survivor-professional, using an OPEN MIKE forum. We'll feature a survivor-professional co-host who'll field topics brought to the episode by you, the listener. ~~ Tonight the special co-host will be Barbara Joy Hansen (Bobbie Joy) from Milford, Massachusetts. Her award winning memoir, 'Listen to the Cry of the Child,' describes her childhood world of violence. She was victimized from age 2 to 8 by her grandfather, sexually assauted at 11-12 by a youth pastor, raped at age 18, and suffered sexual addictions in her marriage causing severe Complex trauma resulting with PTSD. After 38 years, Bobbie Joy now facilitates 'Beauty Out of Ashes' support group and has had many media interviews, including the 'Dr. Oz Show'. Her Humanitarian Aid Work has taken her to the Philippines, and a 4 minute YouTube film of her experience can be seen on her website, www.listentothecry.org. She has a God given passion, purpose & advocacy calling to help survivors everywhere including prisoner's & sex offenders all over the world. ~~ On these episodes we welcome various co-hosts, survivor-professionals who'll assist in fielding questions and lead a variety of topics suggested by our call-in participants. Their trauma-informed perspectives as survivor-professionals will help them guide discussions on the issues of child abuse, trauma and healthy human sexuality that spring from questions and topics brought to us by our listeners. ~~ Everyone's invited to engage on tonight's show. ~~ Please visit the NAASCA.org web site.

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Tonight's special guest is Felisha Johnson from Miami, Florida, who has an incredible story of transformation as someone physically and sexually abused, taken from their loved ones, and placed in the foster care system where she would stay for ten years. She emancipated out at age sixteen, facing multiple hardships. Felisha refused to allow her past to dictate her future, so she pushed through the pain to embark on her healing journey and began to see triumph in her trauma. "I am a survivor," she says. "At seven years old, I was sexually molested by an uncle, physically abused by my stepfather and labeled as a troubled child by my mother .. so anything that I did or said was terrible." It turned out one day she was at school, sitting at her desk when a teacher took one look at her and immediately took her to the front office. "I thought I was in trouble, and it felt like forever sitting there in the front office. The school administration asked me why I had multiple bruises on my body," she says."That's when life changed for me. On that day I was taken  from the only family I knew and placed in the foster care system  by the Department Of Children's & Families." Felisha became quite the advocate and activist. "I created Heal Your Story, LLC & LAP Foundation Inc to help trauma survivors and to encourage at-risk youth to transition from their hurtful experiences to living and building a better life." Now a mother to 6 beautiful children, a wife to an amazing husband, with a successful business, she says, "You can live a beautiful life after trauma", concluding," "I help survivors transition from painful experiences to live and create a better life!"

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Q & A call-in discussion with a survivor-professional, using an OPEN MIKE forum. We'll feature a survivor-professional co-host who'll field topics brought to the episode by you, the listener. ~~ Tonight's special guest will be Lori Golden from San Diego, California, a survivor and a private psychotherapist working with other trauma and abuse survivors. Lori shares, “I am a survivor of incest. My father sexually abused me from the age of 5 to 16. When the sun went down, I was filled with terror, hypervigilance, and waiting. Everything in my room came alive." Lori started using drugs in college at 18 and covered her worthlessness, aloneness and increasing desperation with bulimic exercising, food addiction and drugs, culminating in a suicide attempt at 27. "I am an incest survivor, an addict in Narcotics Anonymous for 33 years as well as Food Addicts Anonymous for 30", she tells us. Her book, 'My House Of Lies; Awakening from a Childhood of Sexual Abuse'. ~~ On these episodes we welcome various co-hosts, survivor-professionals who'll assist in fielding questions and lead a variety of topics suggested by our call-in participants. Their trauma-informed perspectives as survivor-professionals will help them guide discussions on the issues of child abuse, trauma and healthy human sexuality that spring from questions and topics brought to us by our listeners. ~~ Everyone's invited to engage on tonight's show. ~~ Please visit the NAASCA.org web site.

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Tonight's special guest is Peter Elsley from Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada, a child abuse survivor originally from New South Wales, Australia. Peter says his abuse began at 3 years old, at the hands of his mother, followed by his dad and later by his own sister. An older cousin sexually abused him from 13-14 years old. "My cousin lured me. He sexually molested, sexually abused, forced sexual incest, gang molestation, and committed physical and verbal child abuse. I was being kept home from school due to all the abuse that included my own sister. At school, I was bullied, teased and called names. Peter explains, "I thought the sexual abuse had stopped once [I was] around 14 years," he says, "however, I was wrong. My second event of sexual molestation happened with a music teacher." The 'fee' was sexual touching and sex. "While teaching, he would from time to time touch me between my legs while I was playing and concentrating on my lesson." Peter continues, "My third time of sexual abuse happened when I was sentenced to a boy's prison for a crime I never did." His own father threatened him with a loaded shotgun to get his version of truth. "I lived with my grandparents when I was 17 to 26 years," he says. "I survived the horrors of my abuse and yet was diagnosed in 1990 with HIV due to my childhood molestation. Almost 8 years ago, I reached out for counseling to seek the support and guidance from my horrible ordeal of child sexual molestation. My counseling is still continuing." Peter concludes, "I have thrived because I am strong, I have faith and the power by the Holy Spirit my Father in Heaven and my friend Jesus Christ."

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Tonight's special guest is Marlisse (Lisa) Hardamon from Beavercreek, Ohio, a returning NAASCA family member and a child abuse survivor who refers to herself as a 'victor'. From 5 years old through her teenage years Lisa was mentally, emotionally, sexually and physically abused. At 16, while she was babysitting for a family friend, she was once again sexually assaulted when the man of the house raped her. She says, "Today I dance in the light of my life, not as a victim, but a victor. I have learned to not only forgive my perpetrators but to forgive myself. I have learned to move past my pain ." Lisa's first book is entitled, 'Tapestry of A Victor: From Trauma to Triumph'. See her website: www.TransformationSpeaks.com. Marlisse explains her life, "Yes, I was abused and suffered from the result of that abuse. Yes, I cried and I even tried to end my life, several times. I hated myself and everyone, else. I was bitter and angry. I lived in a place of darkness, it covered my soul. I drank and smoked, just to numb the pain. I lived in the world of victimization, unable to heal and forgive." She's much better now. "I have been able to transform my life, using my pain as a platform to show women, how to live a transformed life, to move beyond their current situation into a place of wholeness, peace, and joy, as a minister, a public speaker, and a teacher. I am not a victim," she says, "I did not let my life destroy me, they [sic] made me strong and taught me how to truly live life." Marlisse is an engaging communicator. She has been honing her craft for 19 years as a High School teacher and a minister. She learned the value and strategies of engagement.

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Q & A call-in discussion with a survivor-professional, using an OPEN MIKE forum. We'll feature a survivor-professional co-host who'll field topics brought to the episode by you, the listener. ~~ Tonight's special co-host will be Michelle Bless from Cincinnati, a survivor of severe child abuse who's now a Minister and Chaplain. She'll appear on the 1st Thursday of each month and is the author of the book "Out of Darkness: the Michelle Bless Story," her story of redemption. In 1997, Michelle writes that she, "..was introduced to the Lord and denounced Satan," thus beginning the process of giving her life to God. Michelle is on a mission to bring as many lost souls to God as possible. Her firsthand knowledge of how low a life can plummet to the depths of despair enables her to understand and relate to what others are facing as they struggle to find God in their lives. ~~ On these episodes we welcome various co-hosts, survivor-professionals who'll assist in fielding questions and lead a variety of topics suggested by our call-in participants. Their trauma-informed perspectives as survivor-professionals will help them guide discussions on the issues of child abuse, trauma and healthy human sexuality that spring from questions and topics brought to us by our listeners. ~~ Everyone's invited to engage on tonight's show. ~~ Please visit the NAASCA.org web site.

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Tonight's special guest is Robert Kahn from Fernley, Nevada, who will introduce us to his children's safety book series. Currently there are eight (8) books, developed these books from his Children's Safety Program which he taught as a D.A.R.E. Officer with a County Sheriff's Department. "Over my sixteen (16) year career" he says, "this program saved 44+ children from abduction." He goes on, "I was a 6th Grade Teacher and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. I became concerned with the problems plaguing young people. I was offered the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) position in the county I taught in. I was driven to prevent children from making the wrong choices, so I changed careers from teaching to law enforcement." It was a wise decision. "Considering the data on child endangerment, it is abundantly clear that more proactive education is needed. My books are written in a friendly way and explain how children can be safe when they aren't with a trusted adult. The themes include: Stranger Danger, Bullying, Good Touch/Bad Touch, Don't Hide Abuse, Suicide Prevention, Children Coping with Divorce, Bicycle Safety and Halloween Safety." Robert concludes, "Children would know what to do in dangerous situations before they are victimized. To be forewarned is to be forearmed!" 

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Q & A call-in discussion with a survivor-professional, using an OPEN MIKE forum. We'll feature a survivor-professional co-host who'll field topics brought to the episode by you, the listener. ~~ Tonight the special co-host will be Dr. Tina Medina from Kansas City, Kansas, sexually molested as a child by her uncle. In recovery, Tina is now a professional writer specializing in public relations, community/media relations, technical and grant writing. "My book series explains how God is capable of healing the wounded spirit of a sexual abuse victim," she says. "The journey to sexual abuse recovery is all about taking tiny steps to release pent up feelings," Tina explains. For her, the spiritual aspect of inner healing is crucial for her full recovery. "My spirit is the essence of me and it needed to be healed in order for me to be creative and fulfilled. Walking those baby steps are huge healing steps because it is our version of walking on water. What was once thought to be impossible is now very much attainable. ~~ On these episodes we welcome various co-hosts, survivor-professionals who'll assist in fielding questions and lead a variety of topics suggested by our call-in participants. Their trauma-informed perspectives as survivor-professionals will help them guide discussions on the issues of child abuse, trauma and healthy human sexuality that spring from questions and topics brought to us by our listeners. ~~ Everyone's invited to engage on tonight's show. ~~ Please visit the NAASCA.org web site.

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Tonight's special guest is Andrew Pari, LCSW, trauma specialist, from San Diego, CA, a returning NAASCA family member who is the founder and Executive Director of Sexual Assault Awareness. He's been called the ‘nation's leading authority on the arousal mechanism in sexualized violence,' and a pioneer in sexual assault treatments that bridge the gap from the world of psychology to the world of hidden sexual expression often expressed in the kink/BDSM realm. Andrew is a psychotherapist with nearly 30 years' experience treating female survivors of sexual abuse and assault, including sex workers. He is a Board Member and Certification Program Director with the Center for Positive Sexuality, speaks and trains nationally on "taboo" aspects of rape and sexualized violence, and a contributor to '#MeToo: Counsellors and psychotherapists speak about sexual violence and abuse.,' where Andrew tells his own story for the first time. Andrew became interested in these issues when working with a colleague and found it was quite common for survivors to delay recovery due to feelings of shame or guilt, and a sense of self-responsibility for childhood sexual assaults. Children are helpless, innocent, and powerless against predators. The 'responsibility' belongs to the predators .. not the child. "I had assumed this was common knowledge in the field. I have since learned that there is still so much to do in basic education on arousal for survivors."

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Tonight's special guest is Maria Vinci-Savettiere, Esq, from Morris County, New Jersey, Executive Director of Deirdre's House since 2003. Deirdre's House is a nationally accredited child advocacy center and is the only site in Morris County, New Jersey, where child victims of abuse and/or neglect can be forensically interviewed and prepared for trial by law enforcement, medically examined and treated by a pediatric abuse specialist, and clinically counseled-in English or Spanish—all under one roof, all free of charge. Since 1996, Deirdre's House has provided services in over 40,000 child visits. Deirdre's House means that a child victim will not have to be interviewed and processed at a police station, examined in a hospital emergency room, and counseled at yet another location. It means that an already badly traumatized child will not be retraumatized by the very system that is trying to assist them. It means that free, state of the art care is available on an immediate basis, because the longer a child victim waits for treatment the less likely they are to fully recover from the trauma they have experienced. Most importantly, it means that a child's life may be altered by abuse, but not defined by it. As Executive Director of Deirdre's House, Maria has combined her legal knowledge and business acumen to improve and add to the programs and services offered to child victims and their families. She has increased cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement, child welfare agencies and organizations investigating crimes against children and providing services to child victims. Maria also educates the community regarding child abuse prevention and reporting, and emerging issues in child welfare, through speaking engagements at schools, corporations, and community organizations.

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Q & A call-in discussion with a survivor-professional, using an OPEN MIKE forum. We'll feature a survivor-professional co-host who'll field topics brought to the episode by you, the listener. ~~ Tonight the special co-host will be Bill Murray from Los Angeles, our founder. Bill's recovery is 12 Step-based and spans over 3 and a half decades. Sexually abused by numerous clerics, all men, between the ages of 11 and mid-way through high school, a minor seminary, he was also the victim of pre-pubescent ography and even a two week kidnapping. Bill was graced to have found Alcoholics Anonymous when he was 30 years old. The program not only helped him get clean and sober but also gave him a place to give up his secrets, and the tools by which he's recovered. He firmly believes one can use the 12 Step process to heal from child abuse trauma and to find a way to a comfortable life. ~ On these episodes we welcome various co-hosts, survivor-professionals who'll assist in fielding questions and lead a variety of topics suggested by our call-in participants. Their trauma-informed perspectives as survivor-professionals will help them guide discussions on the issues of child abuse, trauma and healthy human sexuality that spring from questions and topics brought to us by our listeners. ~~ Everyone's invited to engage on tonight's show. ~~ Please visit the NAASCA.org web site.

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Monday to Friday's "Stop Child Abuse Now" (SCAN) feature trauma informed HOSTs and Co-hosts and respected child abuse prevention, intervention and recovery advocates. They're all volunteers members of the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (NAASCA), a 501(c)3. Founded in 2009, NAASCA.org was originally a grassroots effort. It was launched based on our founder Bill Murray's personal life experienced. Bill wrote, "Very few adults escape years of severe childhood sexual abuse, pre-pubescent X-rated photography, sex trafficking, and a two week long kidnapping." He continued. "But I have, and for some 35 years I've been in recovery from its devastating effects." After years of operating as a grassroots effort, NAASCA became a public charity in 2015 .. a 501(c)3 .. but we receive no grants or outside support, and belong to no other organization. There are no dues or fees. Our MISSION is entirely self-sustaining through the volunteer contributions of our members. The single purpose is to address issues related to childhood abuse and trauma including sexual assault, violent or physical abuse, emotional traumas and neglect from two specific perspectives: 1) educating the public, and 2) offering hope for healing and services to adult survivors. There are now nearly 3000 BlogTalkRadio shows, podcasts in the ever-growing library. Join us five-nights-a-week (Mon to Fri), at 8pm EST (so 7pm CEN, 6pm MTN, 5pm PAC) for solution-oriented discussions about the many issues of child abuse and trauma. The shows always include panel discussions and call-in participation.

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Stop Child Abuse Now

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